SPY & Labor Force Participation Rate
The percentage of the civilian noninstitutional population age 16 and over that is either employed or actively seeking employment.
SPY Price
Labor Force Participation Rate
What It Measures
The labor force participation rate measures what share of the working-age population is engaged in the labor market, either by working or actively looking for work. It helps contextualize the unemployment rate by showing whether people are entering or leaving the workforce entirely. Formula: (Labor Force / Civilian Noninstitutional Population) × 100 Where Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (actively seeking work)
Why It Matters
**Unemployment Context**: A falling unemployment rate could be good news (more people employed) or concerning news (people giving up and leaving the workforce). **Structural Trends**: Long-term participation trends reflect demographic changes, retirement patterns, education choices, and social factors. **Economic Potential**: Lower participation means fewer potential workers, which can constrain economic growth and productivity. **Policy Implications**: Low participation among prime-age workers (25-54) may indicate barriers to employment that policy could address.
Key Levels
Data Sources
SPY: S&P 500 ETF daily OHLCV data (1993-02-02 to 2026-01-22)
Labor Force: CIVPART - Labor Force Participation Rate from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Units: Percent, Seasonally Adjusted, Monthly